Hong Kong unveils its first dedicated psychiatric facility for under-18s

In a significant development, Hong Kong's Kwai Chung Hospital has unveiled its first dedicated psychiatric facility specifically for children and adolescents under 18. The redevelopment of the hospital has expanded its total construction area from 80,000 to 134,000 square metres, allowing it to accommodate 1,000 beds for psychiatric patients.

Dr Cheng Koi-man, the hospital's chief executive, emphasized that the new environment serves as a form of therapy, creating an open, safe, and community-like atmosphere that breaks away from the traditional enclosed psychiatric care. The revamped campus features a new main facility and a child and adolescent block, providing a comprehensive one-stop framework for youth outpatient clinics, day hospital services, and inpatient wards.

To improve the overall consultation and admission workflows, the design includes expanded bed spacing and direct access to gardens for assessed patients under supervision. The hospital now receives around 3,000 new child and adolescent psychiatric cases annually, marking a 10% increase from 2022. Subsequent projects, including the demolition of old blocks for a rehabilitation garden, will follow by September.